Guide for public asset management

MANAGEMENT of Bendigo’s community assets will now be guided by a new City of Greater Bendigo policy.

City councillors adopted the new Community Asset Policy at their final meeting before going into caretaker mode last week.

Community assets include everything from buildings, public toilets, structures, statues and monuments, playspaces, sporting grounds, parks and reserves to bridges, roads and associated infrastructure.

City CEO Andrew Cooney said the policy was developed to provide a transparent, consistent, fair and equitable decision-making process to promote equitable community asset and service levels.

It would also help to deal with increasing financial challenges in supporting the maintenance and operations of a large and ageing asset base, he said.

Mr Cooney said the City owns and manages a community asset base valued at about $1.99 billion, which serves a population of 120,000 people – expected to grow to more than 200,000 people by 2056.

“The aim of the Community Asset Policy is to support decision making about the future management of community assets,” he said.

“With rapid population growth in some areas and gradual population decline in others, this evolving community demographic is now impacting on community asset and service needs.

“The policy aims to balance community needs with the operational, environmental and financial challenges the City is being faced with.”